HIPAA – Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) gives rights and protections to people whose health insurance is/was provided by a group plan. HIPAA limits exclusions from insurance because of pre-existing conditions, prohibits discrimination based on health conditions, and gives people the right to buy individual policies if a group plan is not available to them and they have used up their COBRA or other type of health insurance continuation coverage.

The Privacy Rule creates national standards to protect individuals’ personal health information, guarantees patients full access to their medical records, gives them more control over how their personal information is used and disclosed, and provides a clear avenue of recourse if their medical privacy is compromised.

SOURCES: United States Department of Health and Human Services; United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights; United States Department of Labor; Connecticut Office of Attorney General
PREPARED BY: 211/rj
CONTENT LAST REVIEWED: February2018

2-1-1 is a program of United Way of Connecticut and is supported by the State of Connecticut and Connecticut United Ways.

Central Intake/Assessment for Substance Use Disorder

Substance Use Disorder Programs that serve as an intake for agencies which evaluate individuals who are in need of substance use services and are directed to the number of subsidized beds that may be available in the community. Some programs may also offer medical detoxification services for people who need them.